In the first place, human brain is an organ which is apt to spare itself. The brain consumes about one-quarter of the total amount of oxygen consumed by the entire human body. For this reason, the human body instinctively tries to restrain the brain activities in order to reduce its load. However, in cases where a person has to “doubt” or “abandon one’s experienced idea,” a heavy load is applied to the brain. Therefore, it can be thought that it is the real nature of the brain to tend to follow someone’s instructions without thinking by itself.
If you hear the word “minority,” you might first imagine a small number of people of the whole. Nevertheless, it could be a source of error if you regard the concept of minorities only as a matter of numbers. Groups of people who are defined by the properties, such as races or religions are called minorities if they become socially weak by virtue of historical or cultural conditions. In this sense, even a group of people who is not small in number could be a minority. For example, in a society where most of administrative positions of an organization are occupied by men, women are thought to be a minority.
As a boy, I had been rather frightened of my father, since his ideas of what a healthy boy should like did not agree with mine. The hardships of his childhood had shaped his character in a very special way. His driving ambition was to do what his father would have done if he had lived, and he was inspired by the image which he had made of a father whom he lost when he was a small boy. The image was somewhat larger than life.
If you make a visit to a place, the land itself becomes the leading character as a matter of course, which applies to every case, whether you are guided by a guide, or you walk while carrying a guidebook with you. From the very beginning where you plan to go somewhere, the destination takes the initiative, while you become an obedient slave to it.
There are many similar points between Kyoto and Florence. Both are well-known and old cities. Because the both cities are surrounded by hills, it is terribly cold in winter, while it is intolerably hot in summer. As the both cities are regarded as the cultural centers of Japan and Italy, they have been playing a part as everlasting sightseeing reservoirs for tourists.
Many universities in Europe were in beautiful countryside or small towns away from the busy and noisy environment of large cities. Scholars in the universities had studied cultural heritages in the past amid the thoughts and meditation, and gradually developed a new culture, while keeping a certain distance from the hectic changes of the times.
Needless to say, it is important to keep it in mind that prevention is better than cure. However, it is occasionally necessary to have the courage to take a step forward before warrying about the results vaguely. Indeed such a step may be painful to you, but repeated failures will sometimes ripen yourself as a person. The experience that you have stood up many times without being discouraged must be a strong weapon to overcome unexpected difficulties you will face in the future.
A boy is surprised to find his face appeared on the mirror, and the face on the mirror is poking its tongue out at himself. Now, they are facing each other.
The face on the mirror is actually a guardian spirit for him. To tell the truth, that day, he has got a terrible score in the test at school, and was so disappointed. The guardian tries to make him laugh by poking its tongue out at him. (78 words)
